Sunday, September 30, 2012

There was a story in the product produced by the Big Metal Shed on the Hill that reported about a lawsuit by a certain Ford dealership in Anderson County that purchased Ray Viles Ford and as part of the agreement had a 10 year non compete for Viles at a Ford dealership.

When I bought the second vehicle that I ever purchased. Which was probably 1989. Ray Viles, Sr. was the General Sales Manager at Ted Russell Ford. I have not talked to Viles since that day 23 or so years ago. I have not and will never forget the man.

It seems from the article in the paper that Ray probably thought his working days were over when he sold his name and signed the non compete. However, he is now raising his two granddaughters and providing for their education.

First of all non competes are rarely enforceable. But a 10 year non compete? Come on that is ridiculous and it says he can only not sell Fords. Really?

Until the case is heard in court, Viles has apparently left his job as a salesman back at Ted Russell Ford. That is ridiculous.

If I had ever thought of buying a car from the certain Ford dealership in Anderson County, TN you can bet your whole farm, I won't now.

Surprisingly The Big Metal Shed on the Hill has an interesting article on SRW. I bet Cynthia Moxley one of SRW's competitors is shaking her head trying to figure out how that got in the paper. You see Moxley represents the Big Metal Shed or maybe she did represent the Big Metal Shed?

Anyway, good story, SRW and I have disagreed on issues before but we have always remained with a dose of civility and always find something to laugh about when we are together. Can't say that for all the folks that don't like when I opine.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

This evening the group SOS Support Our Schools conducted their second organizational meeting of the day. Earlier today the group reports they had 27-30 people at their lunch meeting. Tonight, 15 people attended.

The group desires to become a grassroots information sharing entity for the community to schools and schools to community.

One participant asked about the perception that the group is a increase tax supporters. The group said that they need to emphasis the neutrality toward issues and demonstrate that they give both views of each issue,

As the session ended Ginna Mashburn approached me and told me how she was amused when I blogged about them reusing T-shirts. I said that's great normally when I post something like that, people are not amused.

Today from Noon-1:30 pm at the ET History Center and tonight at West High School from 6-7:30 pm the group known as Support Our Schools will meet to discuss a Mission Statement & an implementation strategy.

The proposed Mission Statement is "To mobilize a community voice to support quality education in the Knox County public schools.
Mobilize--build energy through small task groups
Community--comprehensive and representative
Voice--be the "critical friend" that communicates between the community and the Knox County public schools
Quality Education--yes, dollars and so much more: transparency, involved families, motivated teachers, a community that understands the link between good schools and quality of life."

The Proposed Strategy for Fall 2012 is
"to locate and map the formal and informal leader networks within the community surrounding each of the 88 Knox County schools;
to establish channels of communication with these leadership networks
to establish with them a regular exchange of school-related information."

The meeting is open to the public and everyone is invited to participate.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

On March 28, 2009 Commissioner Amy Broyles posted on the Commission Forum Page in response to Commissioner Lumpy Lambert leaving his seat and going to someone in the audience ..."I do support either censure or a statement regarding appropriate behavior during commission meetings. I think a commissioner going out into the audience and confronting citizens has a chilling effect on citizen participation, in addition to simply being rude and inappropriate on the part of an elected official. I say all this with a heavy heart; I do not like the idea of censuring a colleague and someone I like very much. However, I think this is a necessary action the commission must unanimously take"

What Lambert did NOT do was touch or strike the person he was talking to.

What Commissioner Broyles did to Dean Rice, Chief of Staff to County Mayor Tim Burchett was battery (the harmful or offensive touching of another). She took an ink pen and struck Rice twice in the side of the face. In addition, she grabbed his neck tie and pulled him to herself in a manner to emphasis her anger and make her point.

Witnesses say that Broyles had an awkward smile on her face and appeared haggard.

Interesting to note that witnesses say that Broyles was upset that the Burchett administration asked for $350,000 for some items but didn't support the senior transportation. Oddly enough at the time Rice was explaining to the CAC ladies how to bid on the services.

In 2009, the Commission passed a resolution offered by Commissioner Briggs that read "The county commission will not condone any action or behavior that intimidates, insults, or threatens a citizen while exercising his right to appear before the county commission."

What Broyles did to the Chief of Staff is in violation of the rule she voted for. How Chairman Norman handles this violation by Broyles will foretell the next year for the commission.

I was humbled and honored by the many people who came up to me and asked if everything was alright because I had not blogged consistently for the past couple of weeks. I explained that work has been hectic and I was getting ready to jump right back in. They all said good because we rely on you to tell us what no one else tells us. Even a dear sweet friend said "I rely on you to tell things before they happen" Again, I can never repay you readers for your loyalty.

When I got home. I checked my voicemail and Republican Party Chairman Ray Jenkins left a robo call message about the bologna cutting. Interesting to note, I did not see Ray or the party's First Vice Chair Phyllis Severance there.

Ruth Kulhman, the only announced candidate for Republican Party Chair was working the crowd. Several other individuals were testing the waters for Chair amongst the crowd. The other candidates said the November election is more important. They will wait and announce after Nov. 6 because the convention for Chairman will not occur until March 2013.

Sources at yesterday's County Commission meeting have informed me that a very upset and angry Commissioner Amy Broyles confronted Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett's Chief of Staff Dean Rice. As she was making a point, she took the ink pen in her hand and hit him in the side of his face.

Additionally, she grabbed his tie and moved his head closer to her to ensure that he was hearing her.

If anyone did these things to Broyles, what would happen? Chairman Norman needs to censure her for these actions at the next meeting.

Last week or two has been hectic for me personally and professionally.

I began investigating, exploring and planning possible book venture(s). I have talked with a few individuals about length, topic and other issues about authoring and publishing books in the day of print and ebook.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Yesterday afternoon school bus 110 caught on fire sitting at Farragut Middle School. The News Sentinel (the product created at the Big Metal Shed on the Hill) reports that the Knoxville Fire Department responded and put out the fire.

Rural Metro has a station that borders the Farragut school property. They are a private company that are contracted to put out fires and be the first responders in the county. Farragut Middle is in the county.

We know the News Sentinel wouldn't get it wrong! So why is Rural Metro not fulfilling their contractual obligation.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Jack McElroy first ran a story with the headline "Haslam out as Pilot's CEO" and during the day the headline changed to "Pilot CEO Haslam Cedes Role"

Why the change? If McElroy had not bothered to craft a headline that was more forthcoming and complimentary to a man and his organization that purchases 50,000 plus newspapers every Friday. Maybe a refusal to sell the newspapers in their establishment and postponing Free Friday's until Cincinnati sends a new kinder, gentler, friendly Editor would be in order.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Big Metal Shed on the Hill's Jack McElroy wasted a lot of space on the editorial page of the News Sentinel today.

McElroy is complaining about the county's surplus and that everyone was surprised at the surplus. I remember while McElroy was ranting and raving about wanting an additional $35 million for schools (even if it meant new revenue) that Mayor Burchett and the county's finance department (even schools central office folk) saying there could be more dollars from surplus.

McElroy says that the monthly revenue should be available to everyone. Well duh, Jack! It has been transparent not only for the County Commission, it has also been available to anyone that has internet. Did the Big Metal Shed on the Hill cut internet?

Many people have been telling me they are beginning to think McElroy is moving into the role as chief spokesperson for Mayor Burchett's estranged wife. McElroy's use of an editorial that has misleading non factual information is taking that role too far.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

So, Jimmy Haslam steps down as CEO to become Chairman of the Board of the national but locally owned truck refueling centers. The company hires a former PepsiCo Executive as it's CEO. Why is it such BIG local news?

It was expected that as Jimmy Haslam becomes an NFL owner that he would not be able to keep up with all the slushy machine breakdowns.

Sunday, September 09, 2012

A year ago this month, the City of Knoxville had a primary election. In that primary election, Madeline Rogero and Mark Padgett advanced to the November runoff.

The three (3) at large City Council races were set up for a November runoff. Mark Campen was unopposed for his district race.

So imagine looking at the Knox Focus online tonight or a print copy beginning tomorrow and see where Former City Councilman and Former Vice Mayor Joe Bailey is identified as City Councilman and Vice Mayor of the City of Knoxville.

Surely, Vice Mayor Nick Pavlis will be surprised he is not Vice Mayor anymore according to the Focus.

It seems the Focus was not very focused on the facts. The celebrating of their Norman and Smith appointments as Commission Chair and Vice Chair must have been intense.

As Knox Focus Publisher Steve Hunley use to say about his papers role with the role of his competitor the Shopper News. "They say tomato, I say tomato" Well, if Hunley says Vice Mayor Bailey one year later and it is actually Vice Mayor Pavlis. Is that tomato or tomato?

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

After electing Chairman and Vice Chairman today the Commission Committees were reconstituted. Commissioner Amy Broyles along with Chairman Norman worked to staff the committees.

I requested and received the new committee membership list this afternoon. Commissioner Anders was only placed on the Cable TV committee which is the committee that former Chairman Mike Hammond asked new Law Director Bud Armstrong to research the expressed purpose of the County's Cable TV Committee.

The regulation of cable television is now a state issue.

So, the two Commissioners (Norman and Smith) that were active in Black Wednesday shenanigans are now running the commission and using their new authority to punish Anders for daring to challenge them.

The Commission then selected the Vice Chairman. On motion of Jeff Ownnby the Commission selected Robert Lawrence Smith as Vice Chair.

Both Commissioners Norman and Smith recently wrote letters to the court asking for diversion for Commissioner Ownby. It was reported here a couple weeks ago and addressed in an article by Mike Donila in the News Sentinel. The product produced by the Big Metal Shed on the Hill.

Monday, September 03, 2012

I received an email with information from the website beenverified that had information on past legal actions concerning Pam Strickland, she is the purveyor of perceived bad things associated to Mayor Tim Burchett.

I cleaned up the information, redacting personal addresses and simply listing the action, any dollar amount, the court and the creditor listed.

A FEDERAL TAX LIEN filed on 2/14/2011 in the amount of $9,049
at the KNOX CO REGISTER OF DEEDS Case Number: 201102140048859 The Creditor listed as INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

A SMALL CLAIMS JUDGMENT filed 2/15/2011 in the amount of $2,300 in KNOX CO GENERAL SESSION Case Number: 59230DT The Creditor listed as WILLIAM A TERRY

A FORCIBLE ENTRY/DETAINER filed on 2/1/2011 in KNOX CO GENERAL SESSION Case Number: 59230DT The Creditor listed as WILLIAM A TERRY

A SMALL CLAIMS JUDGMENT filed on 12/01/2009 in the amount of $584 by the KNOX CO GENERAL SESSION Case Number: 55350DT the Creditor listed as CHARLES THOMAS

A FORCIBLE ENTRY/DETAINER filed on 11/30/2009 in KNOX CO GENERAL SESSION Case Number: 55350DT The Creditor listed as CHARLES THOMAS

Attendees will learn more about election law, polling place procedures, and the Hart-Intercivic voting system. Each meeting is expected to last for one hour. The public is invited to attend.

“It takes more than 600 election officials to run a Presidential election in Knox County,” according to Clifford A. Rodgers, Administrator of Elections.

Election officials must meet the following requirements:

Registered to vote in Knox County
Able to lift 50 lbs
Understand and follow written instructions
Willing to work 14 hours on Election Day and attend training classes before the election.

Governmental employees (federal, state, city, or county) cannot serve as election officials nor may employees of KUB or ORNL; however, school teachers and employees of higher education may serve. High school students who are 17-years or older are permitted to serve.

If you have any questions, please contact the Knox County Election Commission at (865) 215-2480.

Did you see Governor Romney walk into the Convention last Thursday? Did you see him shake all the hands? Did you see him shake the hand of a young man? That was none other than Zach Buttry.

Zach is a student at Karns Elementary in Knox County. His mom Cindy just completed an eight year term on the Knox County School Board and his dad Steve who can be seen in photograph is a former State Representative from Knox County.

Sunday, September 02, 2012

I posted the video yesterday of Pam Strickland answering a question at the Boyd Cloud Democrat Breakfast. I failed to credit that the video came from a youtube account of Dan Andrews.

While it is rare that I slip and do not properly credit other media for items. It is common for me to get slighted.

Just like in today's Big Metal Shed on the Hill publication where Tom Humphrey makes it seem as if the $10,000 civil penalty assessed to to Trustee John Duncan was a common knowledge item. It was common knowledge after I reported here about the reconsideration that was voted on 11 months ago.

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Trustee Duncan went to Tampa, Fl for the RNC on Tuesday. Rumors were circulating about his demise. On Wednesday while the boss was out of town, his delinquent tax attorney Chadwick B. Tindell was eating lunch with Commissioner Robert Lawrence Smith at Wright's Cafeteria.

Smith has been making sounds and moves that he wants to replace Duncan. One can only assume that Tinfell and Smith were working on transition plans.

Pam Strickland, weekly columnist for Napoleon Jack the Editor of the News Sentinel produced at the Big Metal Shed on the Hill spoke to the Boyd Cloud Democrat Club today. She spoke about "her feelings" about Mayor Tim Burchett. She revealed putting her own emotions into the story.